LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Los Angeles County reported another four COVID-19 deaths on Monday, along with 996 new infections — with 140 of them occurring among kids aged 5-11, the most recent group to become eligible for vaccinations.

According to the county Department of Public Health, nearly 81,000 infections have been recorded among children in that age group since March 2020. There are about 900,000 kids aged 5-11 in the county.

"We thank our vaccine provider partners for ensuring communities across the county have continued access to the most powerful protection against COVID-19 available to everyone," county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. "Los Angeles County is committed to ensuring children ages 5 to 11 years old have access to COVID-19 vaccines. Increasing the numbers of vaccinated people in households adds additional layers of protection as we head into the holidays. I am thankful to the more than 7 million L.A. County residents who have received at least one dose of the vaccine."

The four new COVID deaths reported Monday raised the county's overall total to 26,752. The 996 new infections gave the county a cumulative total of 1,503,664 from throughout the pandemic.

According to state figures, the number of COVID-positive patients in county hospitals was 630 as of Monday, down from 655 on Sunday and the third straight day of slight declines. Of the people hospitalized, 170 were in intensive care, up from 161 on Sunday.

According to county figures released last week, of the nearly 5.9 million fully vaccinated people in the county, 68,780 of them — or about 1.2% — subsequently tested positive, and 2,314 have been hospitalized, for a rate of 0.039%, the health department said.

The county has recorded 379 deaths among people who have been vaccinated, for a rate of 0.0006%.

Officials have said that of the people who have died from COVID-19 — vaccinated and unvaccinated — the vast majority, or about 90%, had underlying health conditions. Hypertension has often been cited as the most common underlying condition leading to severe COVID illness or death.

About 80% of eligible residents aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 72% fully vaccinated. Among all 10.3 million residents in the county, including those not eligible for shots, 69% have received one dose, and 62% are fully vaccinated.